Columbia B Eagle

[Victrolacollector]

What are the differences in the model designations for the Columbia B Eagle?

Model B, BX and BHP?

[phonogfp]

What are the differences in the model designations for the Columbia B Eagle?

Model B, BX and BHP?

The Model B was the original type designation for the "Eagle" Graphophone. Serial numbering started at 80,000, went through the 100,000 block, then jumped to the 400,000 block (other models already occupied the intervening number blocks). Somewhere between No.426,950 and No.426,997 the type was changed to "BX." This occurred in 1900 - before moulded cylinders were introduced. As far as I know, it's a mystery why this "BX" designation appeared. The latest "BX" in my database is No.430,083, so you can see that far fewer of them were manufactured than the earlier "B." Although Sears Roebuck carried the "BX" in its catalogs through 1907, the vast majority of "Eagles" were made in the late 1890s.

I've never heard of a "BHP" but perhaps you mean "BXP." This is a common label collectors use to denote a "Nickeled & Polished" Eagle, and was first used by Howard Hazelcorn in his book on Columbia Cylinder Graphophones. I never liked the "BXP" nomenclature because the "Nickeled & Polished" option was offered only in late 1898 - - long before the "BX" appeared. "BP" would have been more appropriate, but I always prefer the original company designations myself to avoid confusion.

I hope this will be helpful.

George P.

[Victrolacollector]

[/quote]

I've never heard of a "BHP" but perhaps you mean "BXP." This is a common label collectors use to denote a "Nickeled & Polished" Eagle, and was first used by Howard Hazelcorn in his book on Columbia Cylinder Graphophones. I never liked the "BXP" nomenclature because the "Nickeled & Polished" option was offered only in late 1898 - - long before the "BX" appeared. "BP" would have been more appropriate, but I always prefer the original company designations myself to avoid confusion.

I hope this will be helpful.

George P.[/quote]


Hi George:

Thanks for the info...You are correct I meant "BXP".

I think the difference between the B and BX might be that I have seen quite a few of the BXP's with the larger (later) style reproducer and a filagree winding key. Maybe this was a upgrade.

[phonogfp]

I think the difference between the B and BX might be that I have seen quite a few of the BXP's with the larger (later) style reproducer and a filagree winding key. Maybe this was a upgrade.

When the "BXP" (Nickeled & Polished) Eagles were manufactured (mid/late 1898), the larger reproducers and filigreed winding key were not yet in production. (By the way, have you really seen "quite a few" of the nickeled & polished Eagles? Over the past decade I've documented only 12. )

Likewise, the Q was provided with a plain stamped steel winding key like the Eagle's and a small reproducer until around 1904 when the 2nd model Q was introduced. I would expect the Eagle (by then the BX) was provided with the filigreed key and larger reproducer around the same time as the Q. The 1900 and 1901 Columbia catalogs show the Eagle (designated as the BX) with small reproducer, stamped steel winding key, and the same price as the earlier B. There's nothing in original documentation to suggest that the BX was an "upgrade."

George P.